The strategy of SANCOLD is to be inclusive and widely embracing of stakeholders in the dam industry. Dam owners, operators, institutions, professional companies, and individuals (professionals and private dam owners), all with an active interest in dams, are invited to become members. Further details are provided on the membership page. The South African National Committee on Large Dams (SANCOLD) revised its Constitution in 2008.
SANCOLD promotes the sustainable development of dams through technical excellence. However, more emphasis is now being placed on social and environmental issues.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has incorporated a wide range of disciplines into the planning of dams over a number of years as emphasised in the November 2000 World Commission on Dams (WCD) report. However, the development process has clearly changed in that it is no longer only engineers that are involved. Many other disciplines such as natural scientists, environmentalists, and social scientists, now play important roles. Projects have become more complicated and take much longer from inception to implementation.
SANCOLD is a vehicle bringing the various groups, involved in all projects concerning dams and water resources closer together. SANCOLD represents South Africa on ICOLD and endeavors to give guidance on achieving sustainable development to the dam owner and the individual, whether they are engineers, scientists, environmentalists, or social scientists involved in the many facets of dams.
The organisation recognises that fewer new dams will be constructed in South Africa and that the emphasis will shift to operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, and raising of existing dams.
SANCOLD supports and promotes development through the use of Best Practices in dam development both in South Africa and in Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African states in support of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative. SADC countries will be invited to have observer status on SANCOLD and to its events.
To achieve this purpose, SANCOLD carries out the following activities:
- Promotes the use of Best Practice;
- Advances the technology of dam engineering, construction, operation, maintenance and safety;
- Examines contemporary dam issues such as environmental impacts, social aspects, capacity building, training, and dam safety;
- Contributes to ICOLD publication through participation on ICOLD committees;
- Arranges local seminars, site visits, and courses and participate in international seminars on dams;
- Funds scholarships for postgraduate studies in dam-related subjects;
- Collects and disseminates information on dams;
- Provides technology transfer to practicing professionals;
- Provides advice and promotes support for the use of Best Practices in dam development throughout SADC and other African states both directly and via the African Regional Club (ARC) of ICOLD; and
- Promotes public awareness of the role of dams in the beneficial and substantial development of South Africa’s water resources.